(SETTLEMENTS=ISRAEL) S. Res.
346: Introduced 1/20 by Rubio (R-FL), Wyden (D-OR) and Risch (R-ID), “expressing opposition to the
European Commission interpretive notice regarding labeling Israeli products and goods manufactured in the West Bank
and other areas, as such actions undermine the Israeli-Palestinian peace process.” This is the Senate version
of H. Res. 567, introduced 12/16/15
by Lowey (D-NY) and currently having 10 cosponsors (covered in the 12/31/15 edition of the Round-Up). Rubio’s press release touting
introduction of the resolution is here.
APN strongly opposes this resolution. We previously called
on House members to refuse to cosponsor it and oppose it if it is brought up for a vote (text of our message was
included in the 12/31/15 Round-Up, here) and we are
now also calling on Senators to do the same.

(FIXING VISA WAIVER PROGRAM MESS) S.2449: Introduced 1/20 by Flake (R-AZ) and
2 cosponsors, “to amend the Immigration and Nationality Act to remove limitations on the ability of certain dual
citizens from participating in the Visa Waiver Program.” Referred to the Committee on the Judiciary. As
noted in Flake's press
release, this legislation would leave in place the restrictions on the VWP for people who have traveled to
Iran. Flake offered similar text this
week as an amendment to
HR 4038 (a bill that got blocked in the Senate). The Flake bill is the companion legislation to HR 4380, introduced 1/13 by Amash (R-MI) and 3
cosponsors (see the 1/15 edition of the Round-Up for details).
See NIAC Action, which is supporting both bills, for
additional details

(FIXING VISA WAIVER PROGRAM MESS?) S.2458 Introduced 1/20 by Cardin (D-MD),
“to amend section 217(a)(12) of the Immigration and Nationality Act, relating to the restriction of the use of
the Visa Waiver Program for aliens who travel to certain countries.” Read twice and referred to the Committee
on the Judiciary. (Note: As of this writing text of S. 2458
is not available, so it cannot be confirmed if this bill is related to concerns about how the new Visa Waiver law
effects people with legitimate reasons to travel to places like Iran).

(IRAN DAMAGES OWED TO AMERICANS) S.2452: Introduced 1/20 by Moran (R-KS),
“to prohibit the use of funds to make payments to Iran relating to the settlement of claims brought before the
Iran-United States Claims Tribunal until Iran has paid certain compensatory damages awarded to United States
persons by United States courts.” Referred to the Committee on Foreign Relations.

Letters:

(TELL AMBASSADOR SHAPIRO TO STOP BEING MEAN TO ISRAEL!) Roskam
letter: On 1/20, Rep. Roskam (R-IL) sent a letter to Secretary of State Kerry expressing his “alarm
and disappointment” over comments made by U.S. Ambassador to Israel Daniel Shapiro at a conference in Tel Aviv (the
full text of Ambassador Shapiro’s speech can be read here). The starting point of Roskam’s lengthy letter is:
“Ambassador Shapiro troublingly questioned Israel’s ‘long-term intentions’ openly cast doubt upon the
seriousness of its desire to reach peace with the Palestinians. These remarks do not reflect reality, yet they
serve to empower those who wish to delegitimize and marginalize the Jewish state…” Roskam closes by
encouraging Kerry to “reject these misguided comments and reaffirm our unbreakable support for Israel.”
Roskam appears unaware that Shapiro’s remarks are in large part almost verbatim the same as ones made by Kerry in
his 12/15/15 speech at the Saban Forum
(including the concern about Israel’s “long-term intentions”). Roskam press release on the letter is here.

(OBAMA – WAIVE NEW VISA WAIVER PROGRAM RULES THAT HURT AMCITS) Huffman et al letter:
This week, Rep. Huffman (D-CA) is seeking cosigners on a letter urging President Obama to asking him to “utilize
all available authorities to ensure the VWP amendments do not broadly and unfairly harm dual nationals of Iran,
Iraq, Syria, or Sudan as well as foreign travelers to Iran or Americans engaged in journalism, humanitarian aid, or
related activities in a restricted country. “See NIAC Action, which is supporting the letter, for additional
details.

(HOLD IRAN ACCOUNTABLE FOR MISSILE TESTS) Perdue et al letter: On 1/15, 13 GOP
senators, led by Perdue (R-GA), wrote to President Obama expressing concern about Iran’s ballistic missile testing
and asking the president to provide them with “a roadmap of what you consider to be illicit behavior by Iran,
and what sanctions or punitive steps will be taken in the event such behavior.” Report on the letter in The
Hill is here.

2. Hearings

1/27: The
House Oversight Committee’s Subcommittee on National Security will hold a hearing entitled, “Seeking Justice for
Victims of Palestinian Terrorism in Israel.” No further details are available as of this writing.

1/27: The House Foreign Affairs Committee’s Subcommittee on Africa, Global Health, Global Human Rights, and
International Organizations will hold a hearing entitled, “The Growing Threat of Cholera and Other Diseases in
the Middle East.” Witnesses will be: Peter Hotez, Sabin Vaccine Institute; Issam Raad, Health Outreach to the
Middle East; and J. Stephen Morrison, Center for Strategic and International Studies.

1/26: The House
Foreign Affairs Committee’s Subcommittee on the Middle East and North Africa will hold a hearing entitled,
“Jordan: A Key U.S. Partner.” Witnesses will be: Gerald Feierstein, Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary of
State for Near Eastern Affairs; Mona Yacoubian, Deputy Assistant USAID Administrator for the Middle East; and
Beth Tritter, Vice President of Policy and Evaluation at the Millennium Challenge Corporation.

1/26: The
House Foreign Affairs Committee’s Subcommittee on Europe, Eurasia, and Emerging Threats will hold a hearing
entitled, “Turkey: Political Trends in 2016.” Witness announced so far are: Nate Schenkkan, Freedom House;
and Gonul Tol, Middle East Institute.

1/20: The
Senate Armed Services Committee held a hearing entitled, “U.S. Strategy and Policy in the Middle East.”
Witnesses were: General John M. Keane, USA (Ret.), Chairman, Institute for the Study of War and Former Vice Chief
of Staff of the Army (testimony); Ryan Crocker, Dean and
Executive Professor, The George Bush School of Government and Public Service, Texas A&M University and Former
U.S. Ambassador to Afghanistan (testimony); and Philip Gordon, Senior
Fellow, The Council on Foreign Relations and Former Assistant Secretary of State for European and Eurasian Affairs
(testimony).

1/20: The Senate Foreign
Relations Committee held a hearing entitled, “The Middle East After the JCPOA.” Witnesses were Michael
Singh, WINEP (testimony) and
Brian Katulis, Center for American Progress (testimony).

Coons (D-DE) 1/20: Long floor statement
laying out the achievements of the JCPOA but warning against dangers of Iran bad behavior. His conclusion:
“America must reassure our allies that we will not waver in our commitment to push back on Iran, its nuclear
program, and its destabilizing actions in the region. Our partners, our allies--and Iran--must know and believe
through our words and our actions that we are serious about preserving the long-term stability of the Middle East
and that Iran--a revolutionary regime--does not share our values or that goal. As part of this effort, we must
reassure, reaffirm, and strengthen our support for our vital ally, Israel. As the administration negotiates a new,
long-term memorandum of understanding to provide Israel with the security assistance it needs to protect itself in
the most dangerous neighborhood on Earth, we must insist that joint U.S. and Israeli strategic planning includes
protection of Israel from threats it faces from neighboring instability in Syria. We must not allow Israel to be
attacked by Iranian proxies, such as Hezbollah and Hamas. We must work closely with the Israelis to share
intelligence and intercept any weapons shipments from Iran to its regional proxies. If we fail to push back on Iran
and enforce the terms of the nuclear deal, not only will the agreement collapse, but our efforts to show the world
that diplomacy actually works will be dealt a dangerous blow as well. In the weeks and months to come, I call on
the administration to do more to push back on Iran, and I call on my colleagues--Republicans and Democrats
alike--to come together, to be engaged, and to remain focused on enforcing the terms of this nuclear agreement, on
containing Iran, and on deterring their bad behavior, their support for terrorism, their support for human rights
violations, and their relentless effort to develop and advance ballistic missile capability...”

Thune (R-SD) 1/20: “…Over the weekend,
the world witnessed another byproduct of President Obama's failing foreign policy. Thanks to a provision of the
President's flawed nuclear deal with Iran , more than $100 billion of frozen Iranian assets and oil revenue were
made available to the Islamic Republic of Iran . This means that Iran's Revolutionary Guard, including the Quds
Force--which is responsible for the deaths of hundreds of American soldiers in Iraq--just received a big influx of
cash. Again, this is thanks to the deal President Obama considers to be perhaps the major foreign policy
achievement of his Presidency. While I am glad that the hostages held by Iran are coming home to their families, it
is a mistake to think this means Iran all of a sudden will now play nice. Iran's leadership knows very well that it
won the lottery with this nuclear deal, and it desperately wants Iranian assets unfrozen and sanctions lifted. Now
that the Iranian leadership has received its payout, Iran will be further emboldened. When negotiating this deal,
the Obama administration assured Congress that the United States would make sure Iran kept its end of the bargain.
Well, it is already clear from October's ballistic missile test that Iran is determined to test the President's
resolve and flout international restrictions. We cannot let those provocations go unanswered…”

Durbin (D-IL) 1/19: Powerful floor
statement on Iran policy (excerpt: “…A simple question to the critics of the Iran nuclear agreement: Today, is Iran
closer or further away from the development of a nuclear weapon? The answer is that it is further away. There is no
other reasonable conclusion. Do you remember the speeches given by Prime Minister Netanyahu and many of the critics
of this agreement? They were telling us that Iran was weeks away from developing a nuclear weapon. Now by consensus
we believe they are at least 1 year away from developing a nuclear weapon if they completely walked away from this
agreement. Without a nuclear weapon, Iran is not the same kind of threat to the Middle East, Israel, or to the
world. All of what I said has been verified by international inspectors. Do you recall Ronald Reagan reminding us
to trust but verify? We verified. The agreement gives inspectors continued access in perpetuity. In a few months,
Iran has gone from a breakout time of a nuclear weapon from a month or 2 to at least 1 year. Quite simply, under
Barack Obama's Iran nuclear weapon agreement, their program has finally been brought to a halt without firing a
shot--something no previous administration had been able to accomplish. That such a difficult task was accomplished
is a testament to the tireless work of our former colleague and current Secretary of State John Kerry and his team.
This Senator thinks of all those who worked so hard on this for so many months to achieve it. Tough diplomacy has
also brought home a number of Americans who were unjustly held in Iran . These Americans had not even left Iranian
airspace before many of the Republicans running for President unleashed another wave of worn-out rhetoric
criticizing the President's effort that led to the release of these Americans being held prisoner. They also failed
to offer a substantive alternative approach. Let me remind the naysayers that it was Ronald Reagan who traded
weapons to Iran for seven American hostages being held by Iranian terrorists in Lebanon--not a handful of
nonviolent sanctions violators but weapons to what was then our arch enemy who had only recently held more than 60
American diplomats as hostages for 444 days. By the time the sales were discovered, more than 1,500 missiles had
been shipped by the Reagan administration to Iran and only 3 hostages had been released. They in turn were replaced
with three more, sadly, in what then-Secretary of State George Shultz called ‘a hostage bazaar.’”

McMorris Rodgers (R-WA) 1/19:
“This week the international sanctions against Iran were lifted, but I have not lessened my determination to
hold Iran accountable for its support of terrorism and anti-Israel extremists. I am supporting H.R. 3662, The Iran
Terror Finance Transparency Act, that sanctions those Iranians who finance terrorism, violate human rights, or are
involved in the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction…”

Price (D-NC) 1/19: “The Iranian
regime's compliance with its obligations under the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) and the subsequent
implementation of the next stages of this agreement mark historic progress toward preventing a nuclear-armed Iran.
I was also pleased to learn that the Iranian regime has released four American prisoners who had been held in Iran
on dubious political charges. Last fall, I joined several colleagues from the Senate in urging the release of these
Americans and other political prisoners in talks with high-level representatives of the regime. I continue to urge
the release of all Americans unjustly imprisoned in Iran. We must remain vigilant in holding Iran accountable
for its human rights abuses and sponsorship of terrorism, which threatens the security of our allies in the region,
and I support the Obama administration's imposition of new sanctions to punish the regime for its recent weapons
tests. But I strongly believe that our diplomatic progress on the nuclear issue can provide new opportunities to
cooperate with Iran not just in overcoming its bad behavior, but also in areas of mutual interest, including
combating the threat posed by ISIL.”

Gardner (R-CO) 1/19: “U.S. Sen. Cory
Gardner (R-CO) called the implementation of the Iran nuclear deal a 'tragic mistake' this weekend, warning that its
ramifications will be felt in the region and worldwide for years to come.”

Reid
(D-NV) 1/19: Floor statement: Iran Will Continue To Be Held Accountable (excerpt: “We are now at the
beginning of a critical period where Iran must allow unprecedented inspections designed to allow the international
community to know if Iran tries to break out and race toward building a nuclear weapon. Iran poses a threat to our
nation’s most supportive ally in the Middle East, the State of Israel. Over my four decades in Congress the safety
and security of the Israeli people have been of the utmost important to me. We must strive to protect the Israeli
people. That’s why Iran must be held accountable for any action it takes that poses a threat to Israel. Iran must
never obtain a missile capable of delivering a nuclear warhead… I look forward to working with my colleagues
to keep Iran accountable and preserve the national security of both this nation and our ally, the State of
Israel.”)

Pelosi
(D-CA) 1/18: “Iran's release of the five Americans is overdue but joyous news. Throughout these
Americans’ long and unjust captivity, we have seen the abiding strength and courage of their families. We
join in heartfelt celebration as they are finally reunited with their loved ones. Their release has been a
key priority of President Obama. Today is a credit to the strong diplomacy of the Administration, which has
consistently pressed to secure these Americans’ freedom. I also congratulate Congressmen Dan Kildee and Jared
Huffman, who were unwavering in their leadership to bring these Americans home. Now, the United States will
continue to press the Iranians to help locate and safely return missing American Bob Levinson. The United States
has held a strong line by only releasing individuals convicted of violating sanctions on Iran as our part of the
prisoner swap. While we have no illusions about the Iranian regime, we have once again seen the value of the
enhanced diplomatic relationship created through our historic nuclear agreement.”

Lowey (D-NY) 1/17: “…as
the U.S. provides sanctions relief in exchange for Iran taking a number of steps to roll back its nuclear program,
we cannot forget Iran's long history of deception, state support for terrorism, and human rights abuses. That's why
I called for punishment for Iran's ballistic missile testing last fall, and I'm pleased the President has announced
new sanctions today. We must also work with our partners in the region to mitigate the negative impact from the
influx of cash likely to start entering Iran in the coming weeks and months. As the Ranking Member of the
House Appropriations Committee, I remain firmly committed to Congress' oversight of the Iran nuclear
agreement and to holding Iran accountable to all of its international commitments.”

Walorski (R-IN) 1/17: “Since the Obama administration finalized the nuclear agreement with Iran this summer,
Iran has continued behaving in a deeply disturbing and aggressive manner. Despite the administration's best
efforts to portray this deal in positive light, the facts on the ground and in recent headlines continue telling a
different story. That was further highlighted by this week's ridiculous detention of ten U.S. Sailors during which
they were publicly humiliated and forced to apologize on Iranian television. This event, among many others in the
months since the agreement, should be a stark reminder of the threats posed by this regime. Yet, even with all we
know, President Obama is moving forward in providing the world's largest state sponsor of terrorism with sanctions
relief this weekend. As Iran begins to see nearly $100 billion begin flowing back into their coffers, I
remain committed to doing everything in my power to prevent these funds from being applied to the production of
nuclear materials, acquisition of military goods, or support for terrorist organizations around the globe. This
regime has never proven themselves trustworthy and I do not expect anything to change once they are $100 billion
richer.”

Byrne
(R-AL) 1/17: “I fear we will one day look back on this deal as a stark failure of U.S. foreign policy. The
deal requires us to trust Iran, and their actions have proven time and time again that they cannot be trusted. This
deal gives billions of dollars to the world’s number one state sponsor of terrorism, and it fails to prevent Iran
from building a nuclear weapon. Nothing about that is good for the American people or our allies in the Middle
East. Let’s not forget that a bipartisan majority in the House of Representatives voted last year to halt this bad
deal. As the deal moves forward, Congress must continue to provide diligent oversight and do everything in our
power to prevent Iran from obtaining a nuclear weapon.”

Carper (D-DE) 1/17: “This is an important day for American diplomacy. This summer, after years of difficult
negotiations, the United States and its international allies brokered a historic deal to cut off Iran’s pathway to
a nuclear bomb and, today, we’ve begun to see some of the fruits of that labor. Following many months of intrusive
inspections, international weapons inspectors have concluded that Iran has followed through on its pledge to
dismantle the large portions of its nuclear program that were not clearly intended for peaceful purposes. This is
an incredible development, especially because of estimates by the intelligence community that the Iranian regime
was mere months away from a nuclear bomb, threatening the security of the United States, Israel and other allies
around the globe…”

McCaul
(R-TX) 1/17: “I have said from the start that the Iran deal was little more than a negotiation with
terrorists. And now with its implementation, we can see clearly one of the dangers it will bring to the free world.
The Administration is unfreezing billions of dollars for the Iranian government, which will enhance its bankrolling
of terrorism, perpetuate its repression, and fuel its efforts to oppose America and our allies in the region and
beyond. Incredibly, the Administration has even made a direct payment of $1.7 billion in U.S. taxpayer dollars to
Iran. History will not be kind in judging this blatant appeasement of a rogue regime. That is why we will continue
to do everything we can in Congress to check Iranian aggression and to prevent the White House from treating
America’s adversaries like its allies.”

Royce
(R-CA) 1/17: “It is a huge relief that these Americans are finally coming home. The torture and pain
these citizens had to endure over their long years of captivity in Iran is unimaginable. All of them should
have been unconditionally released a long time ago. Period. Instead, a disturbing pattern is emerging where
the Obama administration is willing to negotiate the release of spies, terrorists and now criminals. I fail
to see how this trend will improve the long-term security of the United States and its citizens. The Obama
administration will need to answer why this policy won’t encourage terrorist groups and regimes to step up their
efforts to target Americans. And the Iranians still need to answer for Robert Levinson, an American citizen
who has been missing in Iran since 2007.”

Engel (D-NY)
1/17: “I applaud today's announcement of new sanctions against Iran's ballistic missile program. Iran's missile
program poses a direct threat to our allies and continues to destabilize the region. Iranian leaders should
be on notice that the nuclear deal won't excuse their continued dangerous behavior. With the nuclear deal now in
place, we must be more vigilant than ever to hold Iran to its commitments and continue to crack down on its harmful
activities.”

Wasserman
Schultz (D-FL) 1/17: “…I supported the JCPOA because I believe it is the best way to ensure that Iran never
develops a nuclear weapon. Of course, there is still critical work ahead of us, and I continue to remain deeply
concerned with Iran’s steadfast support of terrorism and tolerance for human rights abuses. With Iran’s nuclear
program at bay, we must focus our attention on bringing these additional threats to our security and the security
of our allies to a screeching halt. I was pleased to see the Obama Administration announce on Sunday that it would
be imposing additional sanctions on entities involved in Iran’s ballistic missile program, an issue I and several
of my colleagues raised with the President earlier this month. It is of utmost importance that we continue to
maintain and enforce other sanctions on Iran for its continued support of terrorism around the world and ongoing
violations of human rights…Today marks an opportunity for Iran to indicate to the entire international community
how it will behave on the world stage with slightly opened doors. Its leaders should have no doubt that the United
States and our allies will not hesitate in responding to continued aggressions and destabilizing behavior when it
is necessary.”

Royce
(R-CA) 1/16: “The Obama administration’s nuclear deal with Tehran trades temporary restrictions on Iran for
permanent sanctions relief. That’s why bipartisan majorities opposed this agreement in Congress…Iran will use
this deal to become more militarily aggressive and dominate the region. In selling this agreement, President
Obama pledged to keep the pressure on Iran for its destructive behavior. Yet it is Iran that has pressured the
administration to drop new sanctions against its missile program and then announced its acceleration. This
flawed deal is only entrenching Iran’s military and security forces that run the country. Now more than ever,
we need a policy of backbone, not backing down.”

Sherman
(D-CA) 1/16: “This is a swap, not a gift. This is a significant victory for those of us who care about the
American hostages and their families. It is also a significant victory for an Iranian regime that has helped kill
thousands of Americans and hundreds of thousands of Syrians. This deal will help Iran develop missiles and nuclear
weapons in three ways: Iran is subject to limitations on purchase of nuclear and missile technology and needs
expertise to evade these controls. First Iran benefits from this deal by showing all those in its evasion
network that if they get caught, they will be rescued. Second, the 7 individuals being released will provide
Iran with significant expertise in how to evade missile and nuclear control sanctions and how not to get caught
next time. Third, this deal helps Iran's economy. European businessman will feel a little bit safer in flying
to Tehran. Also, it will be harder to pass new sanctions in Congress on Iran because the hostages were the
simplest and clearest reason to do so. This prisoner swap may be part of a good foreign policy if we impose new
sanctions designed to punish Iran for its illegal missile tests and dissuade Iran from killing thousands in Syria
and Yemen.”

Ryan (R-WI)
1/16: “Today, the Obama administration will begin lifting economic sanctions on the world’s leading state
sponsor of terrorism. As the president himself has acknowledged, Iran is likely to use this cash infusion—more than
$100 billion in total—to finance terrorists. This comes just weeks after Tehran's most recent illegal ballistic
missile test, and just days after the IRGC detained ten American sailors. A bipartisan majority in the House voted
to reject this deal in the first place, and we will continue to do everything possible to prevent a nuclear
Iran."

Hoyer (D-MD) 1/16: “…While
news of our citizens’ release is cause for joy, developments today regarding Iran’s implementation of the Joint
Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) ought to be greeted with abundant caution. It is a very positive step
that Iran’s possible breakout timeline has now been moved back from just weeks to a full year, but with the
pressure of sanctions removed, we can expect its leaders to exploit any loophole to violate the agreement in letter
or spirit. That’s why the United States and our international partners need to maintain the strictest
verification and enforcement regime possible and be ready to respond decisively in the event of a violation.
We must also continue to enforce existing sanctions relating to Iran’s support for terrorism and its pursuit of
ballistic missile technologies and monitor closely how Iran uses the resources it will receive as a result of
implementation…”

Salmon
(R-AZ) 1/16: “News of the Islamic Republic of Iran's agreement to free four American citizens today could
not be more welcome…But in addition to the release of over $100 billion in frozen Iranian assets, assets which will
likely be used to fund terrorism once they're repatriated into Iran, the Administration has now released seven
individuals who violated sanctions against Iran and agreed not to pursue 14 Iranians wanted for trafficking
arms. While I welcome this excellent, if tragically delinquent, news of our Americans' release, I hope the
administration takes a renewed interest in protecting U.S. national security from an aggressive Iranian regime who
I have every expectation will continue to wreak havoc around the globe with their state sponsoring of
terrorism.”

Nunes (R-CA) 1/16: “Today,
Iran--the world’s leading state sponsor of terrorism--will receive sanctions relief from the U.S. and the
international community for allegedly taking steps to scale down its nuclear program. It is almost impossible to
verify these actions, and we remain highly skeptical that the regime will follow through on any agreement. In the
past month, Tehran has repeatedly violated international law, including testing ballistic missiles, seizing U.S.
personnel, and firing rockets near U.S. ships. It is clear that the nuclear agreement has emboldened the regime, a
foreseeable outcome that drove Congress to oppose the nuclear deal in the first place. As Iranian hardliners,
including the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps, reap the financial windfall of this agreement and use it to meddle
in places throughout the world, the United States must be prepared to confront further Iranian aggression.”

Smith (R-NJ) 1/16: “It is
good to see the release of American hostages jailed illegally in Iran for far too long. I'm happy for them and
their families and note that Pastor Abedini's release coincides with Religious Freedom Day. But I don't understand
why the Administration is swapping prisoners when Iran will get $140 billion dollars today in a flawed nuclear
deal. The release of funds to the Iranian government—required by President Obama’s pact with Iran—will only empower
it to expand its terrorist reach. If emerging reports are true, this prisoner swap may only serve to further
undermine trust that the Administration will take a hardline with Iran if it violates agreements,” said Smith. “Not
all Americans were freed in this swap. Robert Levinson, missing since 2007, was not included in this deal for some
unknown reason. In addition, the Administration reportedly delayed imposing any new sanctions for the test-firing
of its ballistic missiles because the Iranians threatened to scuttle the prisoner swap. You can’t make a bad deal
better by making concessions, it only shows weakness, not strength.”

Ryan
(D-OH) 1/16: “Today, we look forward to five brave Americans finally coming home. For too long these
Americans have been separated from their friends, families and loved ones, and I am forever grateful that this
nightmare is finally being brought to an end. For the second time this week, we have seen American diplomacy
succeed, bringing peaceful resolutions to conflicts that only a few short years ago could have resulted in armed
intervention. On Wednesday, the United States successfully negotiated the release of ten Navy sailors who were
detained by Iran overnight. Neither of these conflicts could have been resolved without the United States leading
the way and bringing China, Russia, Iran and the international community to the table to achieve the landmark Iran
Nuclear Agreement, and the willingness and patience to allow international diplomacy to succeed. We urge Iran to
continue to cooperate with the United States to determine the whereabouts of missing American Robert Levinson, who
went missing in Iran in 2007.”

McCarthy
(R-CA) 1/16: “Iran has repeatedly demonstrated that it has no respect for international agreements and no
desire to be a peaceful and stabilizing force in the region. President Obama’s decision to implement the Iran
nuclear deal will enrich the Iranian regime—a regime that fires rockets near our aircraft carriers, forces our
sailors to their knees at gunpoint, has held our citizens hostage, and has repeatedly tested ballistic missiles in
violation of United Nations Security Council resolutions. Iran has not been held accountable for its actions and
there is no indication that President Obama will hold them accountable in this failure of a deal. The Ayatollah and
his Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) henchman are growing more emboldened by the day. The President is
enabling the Iranian regime by surrendering to them a nuclear weapons capability while giving them billions in
sanctions relief, helping Iran in its path to dominating the Middle East. This action is an economic stimulus for
the world’s central banker of Islamist terror and will endanger America and our allies.”

Ellison (D-MN) 1/16: “The release of Jason Rezaian, Amir Hekmati, Saeed Abedni, Nosratollah Khosravi, and
Matthew Trevithick is a triumph of diplomacy. For too long, these men have been separated from their families and
loved ones. But because of President Obama’s commitment to engage and build diplomatic relations with Iran, their
imprisonment has ended. With the release of these prisoners, and the final implementation of the Joint
Comprehensive Plan of Action, it is clear that diplomacy should always be our first approach. Isolation and
antagonism rarely result in peace and stability. Congratulations to their families, President Obama, Secretary of
State John Kerry, and everybody else worked tirelessly for their release.”

Kennedy
(D-MA) 1/16: “Implementation of the JCPOA ensures that Iran cannot obtain a nuclear weapon. By
shipping over eleven tons of uranium to Russia, removing the core of the Arak reactor and dismantling thousands of
centrifuges, Iran is no longer on the verge of becoming a nuclear power. I congratulate President Obama,
Secretary Kerry and Secretary Moniz on a historic accomplishment. While I am encouraged that Iran has complied with
the terms of the agreement and released five Americans held prisoner without justification, our work is only now
beginning. Successful implementation of the JCPOA presents a significant opportunity for Iran to reenter the
global community and invest in its people. I hope Iran's leaders make that choice. If, however, Iran
chooses to test the international community by breaking the agreement, continuing its support for terrorism or
blatantly violating UN Security Council resolutions, it must be met with a strong and swift response.
Congress needs to continue to pay close attention and provide the administration the resources necessary to ensure
full compliance of the accord. This is a historic day but we must remain vigilant in enforcing this deal in the
years ahead.”

Foster (D-IL) 1/16: “The announcement from the International Atomic Energy Agency that Iran has fulfilled
its initial commitments outlined in the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action is a major victory in the effort to
prevent a nuclear-armed Iran. Under the historic agreement, Iran has reduced its stockpile of low-enriched uranium
to below 300kg, decommissioned more than 12,000 uranium enrichment centrifuges, and destroyed the capability of the
heavy water reactor at Arak to be used to produce large quantities of Plutonium. As the only Ph.D. scientist in
Congress, I have felt a special obligation to be fully engaged in the Congressional oversight process of the
nuclear agreement with Iran. Through more than a dozen individual classified briefings by the technical experts who
supported the negotiating team, I have concluded that this agreement is our best chance at preventing Iran from
developing or acquiring a nuclear weapon. This is not the end, but just the beginning of our work. Continued
vigilance and adequate funding for the IAEA will be essential. As we look to the future, we must continue to work
with our partners and allies in the region to ensure that Iran and the international community are bound by much
stronger and more verifiable nonproliferation agreements…”

Sullivan
(R-AK) 1/16: “We are all relieved that five Americans, unjustly imprisoned by Iran, are on their way
home…But I’m outraged that it appears that at least one American still remains in captivity, that our fellow
citizens endured harsh treatment at the hands of the Iranians, that it took so long to get them home, and that
their freedom appears to have involved a swap and concessions that will further put our country and our allies at
risk. I certainly hope that Secretary of State John Kerry or others in the Obama Administration won’t again express
‘gratitude’ and appreciation toward Iran for unlawfully taking the freedom of our citizens.”

Schakowsky (D-IL) 1/16: “Today
is a proud day for American diplomacy and for global security as the Iran agreement has been officially
implemented. This deal was the end product of a long process that will prevent Iran from obtaining a nuclear
weapon. The IAEA has certified that Iran has met its obligations: dismantling 13,000 installed centrifuges,
shipping almost all of its stockpile out of the country, rendering its Arak reactor inoperable, and complying with
inspections. In addition, the IAEA has concluded its investigation into possible military dimensions of the Iranian
nuclear program. The long awaited release of five American prisoners held by Iran is welcome news, timed to
coincide with the implementation of the agreement. Improved U.S. relations with Iran also allowed for the speedy
return of sailors who were held after being taken in Iranian waters. While implementation day marks an important
first step, the work of making sure that Iran fully adheres to it is just beginning. In addition, we must not allow
the deal to be a cover for Iran to take aggressive actions outside the nuclear deal that can destabilize the
region. For example, Iran’s testing of ballistic missiles is deeply disturbing and must be addressed. The United
States and the P5+1 worked hard and long for this day, and now the international community must continue to work
together to ensure that our diplomatic efforts succeed.”

Cardin
(D-MD) 1/16: “The release of five innocent Americans from Iran is a day for all Americans to celebrate their
long and overdue return home. Painstaking effort and the unwavering determination put forward by Secretary of
State Kerry, former Under Secretary of State Wendy Sherman, and countless others to ensure these brave Americans
were freed is a credit to our nation’s finest diplomats. Amidst the most trying and time consuming negotiations
with Iran, the safety and freedom of our countrymen was a priority of our diplomatic agenda. These Americans and
their family members have endured tremendous hardship and immense anguish for far too long. This painful chapter in
their lives is about to close and I hope everyone affected can seek some comfort in knowing that leaders in the
U.S. government and communities across the country never gave up hope and did not rest until these Americans were
freed.”

Tester (D-MT) 1/16: “The nuclear
agreement with Iran may not be perfect but right now it's helping make our world a safer place. We must remain
vigilant in enforcing this deal because Iran can't be trusted, while also recognizing that we're finally beginning
to hold this hostile nation accountable.”

Menendez (D-NJ) 1/16: “Although I disagree with the details of the Iran deal, the United States and the
international community must be completely focused on ensuring that Iran is held accountable for meeting all of its
terms under the JCPOA. Unfortunately we’re already making concessions in that respect… The Administration has at
its discretion the tough sanctions it needs to deter these malign activities, and the Administration has conceded
that invoking non-nuclear sanctions for specific malign activities like test launches of intercontinental ballistic
missiles would not violate the terms of the JCPOA. We should use these tools now, unapologetically, to
protect American national security interests. We must also refrain from shortsighted thinking and look to the
future. The Iran Sanctions Act, which expires at the end of the year, is an effective snap-back measure.
I again call on the Administration to support the bill I introduced in the Senate to renew those
sanctions. And beyond renewing them, I believe we need to aggressively implement them, particularly in
cases where Iran clearly violates international will. The United States must stop allowing Iran to test our limits
unchecked.” [emphasis added]

Corker (R-TN) 1/16: “…“Today cannot be the beginning of the United States and Europe turning a blind eye to
the troubling threat of a nuclear-armed Iran. I opposed this flawed agreement, and fear its implementation shifts
the leverage to Iran as sanctions are lifted in exchange for only limited and temporary restrictions, allowing Iran
to industrialize its nuclear enrichment capability after a decade. Now armed with an initial windfall of more than
$100 billion, Iran will have vast new resources to continue sponsoring terrorism, threatening its neighbors, and
funding its nuclear and missile programs. The U.S. and our European partners must impose swift and immediate
consequences for any violations or acts of Iranian aggression to ensure Tehran will not use the deal as cover to
advance its dangerous activities. The Senate Foreign Relations Committee already is involved in a vigorous
oversight process and is considering legislative proposals to ensure Iran continues to be held accountable. We
will use all the tools provided by the Iran Nuclear Agreement Review Act to quickly impose new sanctions should
Iran breach the terms of the agreement.” [emphasis added]

Lee (D-CA) 1/16: “Yesterday's announcement by the IAEA, as well as the release of 5 Americans unjustly held in
Iran, shows that diplomacy works. As someone who has long advocated for negotiations with Iran, I am
encouraged that Iran has complied with the international agreement to dismantle its nuclear program. Additionally,
the quick release of ten American sailors who unintentionally drifted into Iran's waters shows that our two nations
have opened a new, more cooperative chapter. I applaud Administration's and Secretary Kerry's tireless efforts to
secure this deal that makes our world safer. We must continue to pursue all diplomatic avenues to ensure peace and
global security.”

Ross (R-FL) 1/16: “I am
very grateful Iran released the four U.S. prisoners it has been unjustly holding hostage. However, this ‘swap’ of
prisoners between Iran and the U.S. is not equal. Iran did not take these U.S. prisoners hostage because they did
anything wrong. Iran took these innocent Americans to show its hatred toward the U.S. and hold them as
ransom. By contrast, the prisoners held in the U.S. being released in this exchange were held on legitimate
charges related to sanctions against Iran, and now they are getting off scot-free. Iran is trying anything and
everything to expedite its sanctions relief, except actually eliminating its nuclear weaponry and denouncing its
terrorist regimes and plans against the U.S. and our allies. The President must stop turning a blind eye to Iran's
conniving antics and increase sanctions against the largest state sponsor of terrorism.”

Engel (D-NY) 1/16: “…My
main concern now is what Iran’s leaders will do with the resources that will start flowing after sanctions are
lifted. Iran is the world’s largest state sponsor of terror, so I worry that this newfound wealth will end up
in the hands of those who want to harm the United States and our friends. That’s why I’m working on
bipartisan legislation that will crack down on Iran’s destabilizing behavior and will help enhance the security of
Israel and our other allies in the region. I’m confident that we can work across the aisle and with the
Administration to achieve this goal.” [emphasis added]

Ross (R-FL) 1/16: “Today is
a sad day for protecting America and the world from terrorism and countries who promote and execute such evil
atrocities, like Iran. In exchange for Iran's 'compliance' with the poorly negotiated Iran Nuclear Deal, the U.S.
will lift the crippling economic sanctions it had imposed on Iran that prevented it from building a nuclear bomb.
These are the sanctions that brought Iran to the negotiating table in the first place. By unfreezing more than $100
billion in assets, Iran will now not only be able to invest more heavily on building its nuclear weaponry, but it
will also most certainly further fund terrorist organizations and rogue regimes to kill Americans and innocent
victims throughout the world. It is absolutely absurd the President believes Iran has complied with the nuclear
deal. Iran has blatantly violated this deal multiple times by conducting missile tests to perfect its nuclear
weapons technology, as well as has increased its military presence in Syria and surrounding countries. Iran will no
doubt thank us for our 'help' in executing its next terrorist attacks and the construction of its nuclear weapon
stockpile. I promise I will keep fighting to stop the largest state sponsor of terrorism from harming our country,
its people and its allies. I pray God continues to keep us safe from harm."

Durbin (D-IL) 1/16: “When the Iran nuclear agreement was signed experts believed that Iran was only weeks
away from developing a nuclear weapon. Because of this historic agreement; the removal of twelve tons of fissile
material; the destruction of 13,000 centrifuges; the permanent disabling of the deadly Arak plutonium reactor and
the long term presence of international inspectors, Iran is now at least one year away from developing a nuclear
weapon. The Middle East is safer. Israel is safer. The world is safer because of this Iran nuclear agreement.
Nevertheless, a non-nuclear Iran is still a threat to America's interests and values. We must continue to pursue an
aggressive policy of monitoring and containing their efforts to threaten our allies and promote terrorism. We can
only hope that the spirit of this nuclear agreement will lead to the day when Iran becomes a nation we can trust
and work with for positive goals. Until then we must be vigilant and only trust what we can verify.”

Stivers (R-OH) 1/16: “North
Korea has shown that not every country has peaceful nuclear ambitions. The President and Secretary of State are
under the false assumption that they have secured 'peace for our time' with their Iran deal, when in reality they
have done quite the opposite.” [Note: that’s the entire statement, not at excerpt.]

Roby (R-AL) 1/15: “We
cannot afford to be naïve when it comes to Iran. I’m working to build support for legislation that would prevent
President Obama from irresponsibly and unilaterally lifting sanctions on Iran. We could vote on the bill before the
end of January, and I hope Congress can send a strong bi-partisan message that it’s time to hold Iran accountable
for its actions.”